Jayden Daniels Praised as Commanders ‘Tone-Setter’ by NFL Insider amid Strong Play

Julia StumbaughOctober 2, 2024

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Quarterback Jayden Daniels is setting the tone for the Washington Commanders during his rookie NFL season, a team source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“He’s in the building early and he’s a tone-setter that way,” the source told Fowler.

Another person connected to the Commanders told Fowler, “The ball barely touched the grass all spring. It’s not just that he’s special, but he’s constantly working to get better.”

As Fowler put it, “Daniels’ maturity on and off the field is why the team isn’t worried about difficulties with handling success.”

Daniels and the Commanders dominated last Sunday in a 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals that brought the team out to a 3-1 start for the first time since 2011.

The No. 2 pick of the 2024 draft ranks fourth in the NFL with a total quarterback rating of 73.3 through four games, and eighth with 8.5 yards per attempt.

Daniels leads the league with an 82.1 completion percentage after throwing for 897 yards and three touchdowns, having marked just one interception during the blowout of the Cardinals, and has made 46 carries for four touchdowns and 218 yards.

The Commanders arguably have thinner receiver depth than that surrounding other rookie quarterbacks like the Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams, New England Patriots’ Drake Maye or Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix, but Fowler reported that the team has been “very pleased” with their receiver depth chart.

Terry McLaurin, in his third straight season as a starter, currently leads the team with 191 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Zach Ertz have also recorded double-digit catch totals, while Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey and running back Austin Ekeler have also served as effective targets for Daniels.

The Commanders are an early contender for the NFC East lead and a postseason bid for the first time since 2020 in large part thanks to Daniels. The team will continue their push as a playoff hopeful during Sunday’s home game against Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns.